"They're a similar team to Tulpehocken, a counter-attacking team that will sit back and defend and pop it up to their forwards," Exeter coach Chris Farrell said of Dallastown. "When they get a goal ahead, it makes it difficult to come back."

This was a tough assignment for Exeter (12-5-4). Dallastown was the highest remaining seed in the field and the York County champs eliminated Wilson in the first round Thursday.

The Wildcats (22-1) put their prolific attack on display immediately. They hit the crossbar in the opening seconds and applied consistent pressure until Stephen Byrne scored on a free kick from 20 yards out to make it 1-0.

At 34:47 of the first half, Shane Campbell carried the ball almost the length of the field before burying a shot into the corner to extend Dallastown's lead.

Campbell's speed appeared to catch Exeter by surprise. No one was able to mark him.

"It seems like he can really dribble with pace," Farrell said. "We were wondering why we couldn't track him down when he was running with the ball all day. Maybe he's that good."

Dallastown outshot Exeter 11-3 and had an overwhelming advantage in possession in the other team's end, but the Wildcats never extended their lead in the second half and never put a vise grip on the game.

When Palacios ended the shutout, Dallastown was suddenly in danger.

"We just started kicking the ball instead of playing possession," coach Mitch Groh said. "We like to play the ball to the outside backs and move it forward that way. We didn't do that. It made it a kick-and-run type of game and we gave up the goal and made it close."

Exeter got an energy boost from its goal and began applying further pressure. Before the Eagles could capitalize, Sam Hart was given a red card for elbowing with 5:49 left.

That brought Exeter's momentum to a halt. Dallastown controlled the ball for much of the final five minutes to seal it.

Exeter, the Berks I champ, was denied in its quest to reach the district semis for the second time in three years.

"We were one step away from the state tournament," Farrell said. "We won the most difficult division in Berks County. The boys gave it everything they had this year. It's just difficult for the season to end."